All Articles
The First Prospectors
April 2002 by Dr. Ralph E. Pray
Who were the earliest prospectors in the Western Hemisphere? Is there any way to tell?Additional articles that might interest you...
Legislative and Regulatory Update
July 2010
• Cap and trade
• Roadless rule
• WDFW backs down thanks to miners
• California dredge permits
• BLM faces lawsuit over access in Washington State
• Cap and trade
• Roadless rule
• WDFW backs down thanks to miners
• California dredge permits
• BLM faces lawsuit over access in Washington State
Dredger Wins Claim Against Fish & Game Director
March 2010
I finally received my day in court on February 3, 2010. Donald Koch was not present. Instead, Terry Dickerson from the California Dept. of Fish and Game appeared in an attempt to represent the defendant.
I finally received my day in court on February 3, 2010. Donald Koch was not present. Instead, Terry Dickerson from the California Dept. of Fish and Game appeared in an attempt to represent the defendant.
Oregon Governor Asks For Mineral Withdrawal
November 2009
Conservation groups hope to meld the three wilderness areas and surrounding parts of southwestern Oregon into one big wilderness covering 1 million acres—a move Kulongoski has endorsed.
Conservation groups hope to meld the three wilderness areas and surrounding parts of southwestern Oregon into one big wilderness covering 1 million acres—a move Kulongoski has endorsed.
Flood Plain Gold Deposits—What Are They Really?
November 2017
We just completed a trip to another river, and yes, there was definite movement and redistribution of gravels, and other prospectors have seen this as well.
Following Clues to a Hidden Gold Deposit
March 2012
Many years ago I was in the American Canyon. I remembered a few details about a placer deposit there, so we decided to make a trip down and re-check some of these old workings.

Fake Assays & Assayers
September 2000
There may be as many crooked gold assayers in the Southwestern U.S. as there are self-employed honest ones. Right now it looks that way. What can be done to stop the crooks? Why do the scams continue? How can you tell the difference between the good guys and the half-assayers? Who are the crooked ones? Where are they?
There may be as many crooked gold assayers in the Southwestern U.S. as there are self-employed honest ones. Right now it looks that way. What can be done to stop the crooks? Why do the scams continue? How can you tell the difference between the good guys and the half-assayers? Who are the crooked ones? Where are they?
MMAC & PLP Update
July 2015
On July 4, we are reminded of the sacrifices our Founding Fathers made to establish this great country of ours, and in that spirit, the Minerals and Mining Advisory Council (MMAC) has created a draft Declaration of Miners.And MMAC has been hard at work writing a bill, with the unwavering support of several members of Congress, to reaffirm the rights of miners operating in traditional mining districts.
On July 4, we are reminded of the sacrifices our Founding Fathers made to establish this great country of ours, and in that spirit, the Minerals and Mining Advisory Council (MMAC) has created a draft Declaration of Miners.And MMAC has been hard at work writing a bill, with the unwavering support of several members of Congress, to reaffirm the rights of miners operating in traditional mining districts.
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